A gap in quality related to care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses • Option Two: A gap in equity related to mental health access for veterans • Option Three: A gap in efficiency related to rising cost of pharmaceuticals for the aging population

HCM 340 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview The 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report To Err is Human was a call to arms for the U.S. healthcare delivery system. It emphasized the need to explore the processes, structure, and outcomes related to the quality of care provided to individuals in our society. For your final project, you will research a gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care (including existing initiatives in place to address the gap and economic and regulatory factors that are currently in place to address the gap). Access to care includes access to health insurance coverage, access to services and providers, and timeliness of the care received. All three of these components impact quality of care. Access can also include affordability. The quality of the care people receive in the healthcare system should not vary based upon their socioeconomic status. For your final project, you will select a healthcare delivery process gap and the population affected from the list below. Then, you will develop a healthcare delivery systems research paper.

• Option One: A gap in quality related to care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses • Option Two: A gap in equity related to mental health access for veterans • Option Three: A gap in efficiency related to rising cost of pharmaceuticals for the aging population

This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:

• Draw connections between current healthcare delivery systems and the context in which they were developed • Describe the impact of economic and regulatory drivers on healthcare delivery systems • Identify major gaps in access to healthcare for determining areas of opportunity for improved access to quality healthcare • Explain initiatives targeted at maintaining or improving the health status of specific populations

Prompt

After choosing the topic for your course project from the options provided in the overview, you will work to develop your healthcare delivery systems research paper. Within the final research project you will address your chosen gap in access, including existing initiatives in place to address the gap, and economic and regulatory factors that are currently in place to address the gap.

 

 

 

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Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction A. Describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare. Include the specific population affected by the gap. B. Briefly describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare. Has this been an issue historically, or is it a modern issue? C. Explain the impact that the socioeconomic background of the population has on their access to healthcare. D. Describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access. E. Predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed.

II. Existing Initiatives A. Explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access. B. Explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access. C. Describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative. Consider when it was developed and what factors were

considered. D. Describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative. E. Explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement.

III. Regulation A. Explain a current regulation regarding the existing initiative that has been identified and the context in which it was developed. Why is this

regulation important? B. Describe the regulatory level that the existing initiative is being addressed at. Consider the potential for multiple levels of regulation.

IV. Conclusion: Explain the effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population. Does the initiative align with initiative in place to support other gaps? Are there conflicting interests to be aware of?

 

Milestones Milestone One: Topic Selection In Module Three, you will submit a 2- to 3-page paper explaining why the topic you chose is a gap in healthcare and analyze the specific population impacted by the issue. This assignment will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Existing Initiatives In Module Five, you will submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you will identify and analyze an initiative that addresses the gap you chose as the topic for your final project. This assignment will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.

 

 

 

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Final Submission: Healthcare Delivery Systems Research Paper In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your healthcare delivery systems research paper should be 5 to 8 pages. It should be double-spaced, include one-inch margins, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and adhere to the latest edition of APA formatting.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value Introduction: Gap Meets “Proficient” criteria and

description demonstrates keen insight into the healthcare delivery processes

Describes a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare, including the specific population affected by the gap

Describes a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare, including the specific population affected by the gap, but the description is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare to a specific population

7.9

Introduction: History Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the premise of the gap

Briefly describes the history of this gap in access to healthcare

Describes the history of this gap in access to healthcare, but description is verbose or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare

7.9

Introduction: Socioeconomic

Background

Meets “Proficient” criteria and the explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare

Explains the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare

Explains the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare, but explanation is cursory or illogical

Does not explain the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare

7.9

Introduction: Affect Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the healthcare delivery processes as they relate to consumer access

Describes how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access

Describes how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access, but description cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access

7.9

 

 

 

4

Introduction: Implications

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and predictions demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of the interrelationship between healthcare access and other variables

Predicts any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed

Predicts any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed, but predictions are unrealistic or unrelated

Does not predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed

7.9

Existing Initiatives: Address Gap

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs for addressing the gap

Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access

Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access

7.9

Existing Initiatives: Goals

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the purpose of the existing initiative

Explains the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access

Explains the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access

7.9

Existing Initiatives: Development

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the elements involved in the development of initiatives

Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative

Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative, but description is unclear or incomplete

Does not describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative

7.9

Existing Initiatives: Resources

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a complex grasp of the funding requirements of healthcare delivery initiatives

Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative

Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative, but description is illogical or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative

7.9

Existing Initiatives: Improvement

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs of the initiative and its shortcomings

Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement

Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement

7.9

 

 

 

5

Regulation: Current Regulation

 

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of how context influences the development of regulations

Explains a current regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and the context in which it was developed

Explains a current regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and the context in which it was developed, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not explain a current regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and the context in which it was developed

7.9

Regulation: Regulatory Level

Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of regulatory control levels

Describes the regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed

Describes the regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed, but description is cursory or unrelated

Does not describe the regulatory level at which that the existing initiatives are being addressed

7.9

Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates a complex grasp of the relationship between individual initiatives and the healthcare system

Explains the effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population

Explains the effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population, but explanation is cursory or unrelated to the overall healthcare system

Does not explain the role of this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the population or the initiative in place to address this gap

2.6

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

2.6

Total 100%